The big three available at Vitamin Shoppe and GNC right ? I am not in the medical profession, unless chasing ambulances qualifies, but I have this client who is always coming in with his prescriptions and asking me "Should I take this" it sends chills down my spine,

"Do you have any medical problems?""No""Then why do you have HCTZ and Captipril listed on your medication list""For my blood pressure""I thought you said you had no medical problems""Well, I take the pills and its not a problem"

Or my favorite

"Are you on any medications?""No, why?"But you're on the pill""Well, that's not a medication dummy! That's a contraceptive!"

I had a sweet older lady last semester in Hygiene clinic who when I asked her if she was on any meds said, "Oh just a few" Upon further questioning I found out she was on no less than 15 different meds for a myriad of issues to include baby aspirin that was only found out about after my instructor questioned her further. She looked at the instructor and said, "Why do you need to know if I take baby aspirin, what does that have to do with cleaning my teeth."

Took me 20 minutes alone to research all the drugs in the Dental Drug Reference. This semester I asked her ahead of time for her meds list and I still had to add some when she showed for her appointment. It was definitely a good learning experience. *smile through clenched teeth*

I have a rheumatologist, cardiologist, pulmonologist, dermatologist, and a primary. Not surprising, I also have a long list of medications. I'm not especially pleased with either of these facts, but it is what it is. Everybody gets the list, and nothing on it falls into the category of "fun." As frustrated as it is when folk don't know what's included under the heading of medications or think it's important to tell you, you should know that it goes both ways.

It involves the doc (or member of clinic staff) looking at my list for a moment, and then remarking, "You take a lot of medication." Ya think? Nothing reassures a patient like a firm grasp of the obvious. No offers to take me off of any of them, though. Dang it.

Welcome to my whining!

This blog is entirely for entertainment purposes. All posts about patients may be fictional, or be my experience, or were submitted by a reader, or any combination of the above. Factual statements may or may not be accurate.

Singing Foo!

Have Dr. Grumpy delivered automatically to your Kindle for only 99 cents a month! Sign up here!

Dr. Grumpy is for hire! Need an article written (humorous, medical, or otherwise) or want to commission a genuine Grumpy piece for your newspaper/magazine/toilet paper roll? Contact me to discuss subjects. You can reach me at the email address below, or through my Linked-In profile.

Note: I do not answer medical questions. If you are having a medical issue, see your own doctor. For all you know I'm really a Mongolian yak herder and have no medical training at all except in issues regarding the care and feeding of Mongolian yaks.